Wetting agents and a process of making same



Stat

' 2,794,004 WE'ITING AGENTS AND A PROCESS or MAKING SAME Roger Ratti, Binningen, near Basel, Switzerland, assignor to Durand & Huguenin A. G., Basel, Switzerland, 2: Swiss company Application October 13, 1953, Serial No. 385,897

Claims priority, application Switzerland April 13, 1949 17 Claims. v 01. 252453 No Drawing.

consisting of water soluble salts of alkyl-aryl-sulfontic acids, water soluble salts of sulfonic acids of esters of organic polycarboxylic acids, water soluble salts of acidic esters of sulfuric acid'with high molecular alcohols, water soluble salts of condensation products of high molecular fatty acids containing sulfonic groups, and at least one substantially water insoluble neutral triester of phosphoric acid, selected from the group consisting of trialkyl phosphates and trialkoxyalkyl phosphates, the alkyl radicals of which contain 3 to 8 carbon atoms inclusive and the quantity of phosphoric acid triester present amounting to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the surface active substance.

More especially the invention relates to wetting agents comprising a mixture consisting of at least one water soluble salt of an alkyl-aryl-sulfonic acid and at least one substantially water insoluble neutral triester of phosphoric acid as defined above.

Furthermore especially the invention relates to wetting agents comprising a mixture consisting of at least one water soluble salt of an alkyl-aryl-mono-sulfonic acid and at least one substantially water-insoluble neutral triester of phosphoric acid as defined above.

Owing to the simultaneous presence of the surface active substances and of the trialkyl phosphate or trialkoxyalkyl phosphate an extremely strong wetting power is obtained on all kinds of fibres which is markedly superior to the wetting power of the single ingredients. The increase of the wetting power, which is caused by increasing quantities of the neutral triester of phosphoric acid occurs the sooner and the more, the smaller the wetting power of the surface-active substance used is per se. In practice, it is, however, expedient to use at least 10% of a neutral triester of phosphoric acid, based on the weight of the surface-active substance, for with smaller quantities the increase of the wetting power compared to the quantity of the neutral triester of the phosphoric acid used is generally too small. The practically most interesting results are obtained if, according to the wetting power of the surfaceeactive substance used, between 10 and 40% by weight of neutral triester of phosphoric acid are used. A further increase of the quantity of phosphate over 40% is generally not profitable, since the increase in cost caused 'by the large quantity of phosphate is no longer compen sated by the increase in wetting power. By adding a trialkyl phosphate or trialkoxyalkyl phosphate within the above defined limits, it is possible to increase considerably the wetting power of a given surface-active substance in an economica'l way.

The substantially water-insoluble trialkyl or trialkoxyalkylestersof the phosphoric acid. which may be used 2,794,004 Patented May 28, 1957 power is obtained by using esters of phosphoric acid with aliphatic alcohols containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms, the alkyl radicals of the latter being straight or branched chains. Especially good results are obtained with trialkoxyalkyl phosphates, i. e. trialkylphosphates in which the carbon chain of the alkyl radical is interrupted by ether-like linked oxygen atoms. Moreover, it is also possible to use mixtures of different trialkyl and mixtures of diflerent trialkoxyalkyl phosphates as well as mixtures of trialkyl-phosphates and trialkoxyalkylphosphates. Examples of trialkyl phosphates which may be employed are: tn'propyl phosphate, tri-isopropyl phosphate, tri nbutyl phosphate and isomeric derivatives thereof, tri-namyl phosphate and isomeric derivatives thereof, tri-noctyl phosphate, tri-Z-ethylhexyl phosphate and isomeric rtri-octyl phosphates or the like, while tributoxy-ethyl phosphate is a particularly suitable example of a trialkoxyalkyl phosphate.

As water-soluble surface-active substances for the manufacture of the new wetting agents, there may be used substances which belong to chemically difierent classes of anionic surface active substances. More particularly anionic surface-active substances which are known as wetting agents may be used.

As water-soluble anionic surface-active substances which may be used acording to the present invention, there are mentioned, by way of example, only:

Salts of alkyl-aryl-sulfonic acids, especially salts of the monosulfonic acids of dodecylbenzene, dodecyltoluene, di-propyland di-isopropyl-naphthalene, di-butyland di-isobutyl-naphthalene, amyl-naphthalene, di-amyl-naphthalene, nonylnaphthalene, di-nonylnaphthalene or the like, salts of sulfonic acids of esters derived from organic polycarboxylic acids, especially salts of sulfosuccinic acid esters, sulfophathalic acid esters and the like, salts of acidic esters of sulfuric acid derived from high molecular alcohols, like lauryl alcohol sulfate, cetyl alcohol sulfate and so on, salts of condensation products of high molecular fatty acids containing sulfonic groups, especially esters and amides of high molecular fatty acids containing a sulfo group, an imidazol derivative containing an aliphatic long chain radical and a sulfo group.

The degree of dispersity of the. substantially waterinsoluble trialkyl or trialkoxyalkyl phosphates depends on the nature of the water-soluble surface-active substance used. If the trialkyl phosphate is mixed with the salt of an alkyl-aryl-sulfonic acid, or with the salt of another surface-active substance as described above, a hydrotropic solution of the water-insoluble trialkyl phosphate is obtained on dissolving this mixture in water; this hydrotropic solution shows an extraordinarily great wetting power.

The mixture of the surface-active substances with the trialkyl phosphates may be etfected without the addition of further diluents so that solid masses can be produced. It is however also possible to work in the presence of suitable diluents, preferably of water, solutions or watersoluble pastes or honey-like masses being thus obtainable depending on the physical properties of the surfaceactive substance used.

The wetting agents according to the invention are suitable for producing aqueous solutions or dispersions having a high wetting power which can be used for the rapid wetting of the most different materials.

The following examples serve further to illustrate and explain the invention, but do not limit it. Parts are by weight unless otherwise stated and temperatures are in degrees centigrade. The relationship of parts by weight toparts by volume is that of kilograms to litres.

. tion of a commercial nonylnaphthalene with concentrated sulfuric acid and containing about 350 parts of the so- 7 Example 1 100 parts of each of the following substances known as wetting agents were mixed, i. e.:

I. Sodium salt of .di-isopropyl naphthalene .sulf'oriic acid (containing about 25 of sodium sulfate). 7

'H. Sodium salt of 'di-butyl naphthalene sulfonic acid (commercially pure, made y extraction f t e raw 1 gram of this paste is dissolved in 1 litre of water product with benzene and'evap ion f b n of 20C. It the wetting power of this solution is-testcd III. Sodium salt of a mixture of alkyl-aryl-sultonic acids, 10 according t the sinking thod d c ib d ti gx m l obtained by sulfonation of a commercial mixture of 1 sifiking ti f l 3-4 seconds are obtai df r otalkyl benzenes boiling at a temperature of 110-210 to d wo l,

C. at 12 mm. withsulfuric acid monohydrate .aft 50C. (Containing Sodium S111fate)1- with the same success by commercial tributoxyethyl IV. Sodium salt of the acidic. sulfuric acid ester .ofeom- 15 hd ph m f, V j

'merciallauryl' alcohol in form ofa high concentrated F th rmmth di v lt fl l h h l l. Paste (Gardil'lol WA, 'YQ and I fonic acid may be replacedby'the "sodium salt of the VvInYadiflN g and coonisrslilfaice g F$ dodecyltoluene sulfonic' acid, .obtainable by .sulfonat-ion P- 0 1945) with: u a V 3 ofcommercialdodecyltoluene. e i s A. parts :of water and 20 parts' oftri-n-b'utyl 20 phosphate and I I 7 l 1 B. with 40 parts of water-until a homogeneouspaste has been obtained.

of sodium sulfate and 70 parts of water) are mixed in a suitable apparatus, if desired with slight heating, with 100 parts of commercial tributyl phosphate and treated until a homogeneous viscous paste'is'formed.

Example 3 I IOO'grams ofe'ach of the 1fol1owingsubstances known as surface-active substances: 7

To test the wetting power 1 gram and 2 gram's-of each I. Eriopon GA (Diserens: l. c., .p. .106.) of the mixtures Aan'd B were diluted in one-litre"each II. Sandopan N (Diserens: l. c.,,.p.'10'6') and of water. 1 r -III. Ultravon W (Young and Coons, Surface-Active The test oft hewettingpower was'effected according to Agents, p. 150) are mixedwithz' the sinking method with strips of 15 x mm. of wool- A. parts of water andZQ-parts of tributylph'o'sfelt or raw cotton material. The strips were completely 30 phate and 1 dipped into the liquid to be testedby means of "a 'thread B. 60 parts of water. .of' suitable length attached to them and carrying a small weight and the time between the dipping and the sinking was measured. Temperature of the liquid was 20C.

For testing the wetting power 1 gram each and 2 grams respectively of the mixtures A and 'B were dissolved in '1 litre each of water and'the sinking times -of cotton and e resut ar shown in th f llow' Th 1 s e e 0 mg table 35 wool measured in these solutions .at 20 C. "asdes'c'nbed in Example 1. The results are tabulated as follows:

Sinking times Cotton Wool sinking times 1 g./lit1e 2 g./lltre 1 gJIitre 2 g./litre Cotton W001 Secondsg Secondi secondg tSeeontis3 1 -l itre "2 gJlitre 1 gJlltre 2 g./litro over 2 Seconds Seconds Seconds *Second! 13 28 8 I-A 57 22 12 5 1 5 B 280 133 72 22 25 A '29 7 s 4 17 4 95 53 65 28 74 7 86 49 ,16 6 4 3 301 209 120 76 32 2s Example 4 As the solutions A and B contain always the same amount of wetting agent the excellent effect of the addi- 100 Parts each of the commercial Wetting fl fi tion of tributyl phosphate can be seen from the improve- COIIQI (Young 1 (300115, SUIfaCG'ACtIW Agent's, ment caused in the sinking times of A when compared P- 135 mixed with! with B. From the comparison of the sinking times r e- I J sulting with 1 gram of A compared with 2 grams of B g parts of Watfir and Parts of mbuty-l phosphat? item be gathered that'also a duplication ofthe quantity 7 40 Parts of watch of wetting agent present in the solution (2 grams of'B per litre) has not in the least the same good effect as an addition of 20% of tributyl phosphate (1 gram of A per litre).

In the above-example tri-iso-butyl phosphate, tri-isoamyl phosphate or tri-butoxyethyl phosphate can be substituted with like success for the tri-n-butyl phosphate.

Fortesting the wetting power :1 gram each and Zgrams respectively of 'the mixtures A and B were dissolved in 1 litre each of water and the-sinking times of "cotton and wool measured in these solutions at 20C. as describedin Example 1. The'obtained'results are as follows:

If the amount of the trialkyl phosphate is incr eased a 'smkmgflmes further mprovement of the wetting power 1s obtained.

Instead of pasting first the wetting agent with the v Comm wool trialkyl phosphate the wetting agent can also first be dissolved in water, whereupon the trialkyl phosphatecan 7 v 1 glut; June 1 Hum 2 Nuke be added to the solutlon. V v

Example 2 Secondg Seconds1 seeqndi -Seconda1 530'gra msof an 'aqueouspaste of the sodium 'salt of 24 932 l the nonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (obtained by su'lfona dium salt of nonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid, parts In this example the \tributylphosphate can be' replaced Example 100 grams of each of the following commercial wetting agents:

I. Santomerse 1 (Young and Coons, Surface-Active Agents, p. 142) II. Tergitol Penetrant 7 (Young and Coons, 1. c., p. 146) III. Teepol X (British Patent 587,279, p. 6, lines 35-42) IV. Nekal NS (Young and Coons, 1. c., p. 135) V. Resolin B (Young and Coons, l. c., page 142) are mixed with:

A. 20 parts of water and 20 parts of tributyl phosphate and B. 40 parts of water.

The wetting agents Nos. II and III and IV form, on adding tributyl phosphate, two layers which, by shaking, mix easily to form an unstable emulsion.

For testing the wetting power 1 gram each of the mixtures A and B was dissolved in 1 litre each of water and the sinking times of cotton and wool measured in these solutions at 20 C. as described in Example 1. The results are tabulated as follows:

Example 6 100 parts each of the commercial wetting agent Aerosol OT (Young and Coons, l. c., p. 117) are mixed:

A. With 20 parts of water and 20 parts of tributyl phosphate, B. with 40 parts of water.

For testing the wetting power 0.5 gram ofeach of the mixtures A and B were dissolved in 1 litre each of water and the sinking times of cotton and wool measured in these solutions at 20 C. in the way described in Example 1. The obtained results are as follows:

Example 7 100 parts of the commercial wetting agent Aresk-ap 100 (Young and Coons, l. c., p. 119) are mixed with:

A. 20 parts of water and 20 parts of tributyl phosphate and B. 40 parts of water.

For testing the wetting power 2 grams of each of the mixtures A and B were dissolved in 1 litre each of water and the sinking times of cotton and wool measuredin these solutions at 20 C.:in the way described in Example 1. The obtained results are as follows:

Sinking times Cotton, Wool, 2g./lltre 2g./litre Seconds Seconds A 2 2 R 26 18 Example 8 500 parts each of a paste containing 320 parts of the technical pure sodium salt of a dodecyltoluene sulfonic acid and 180 parts of water are mixed in a suitable apparatus with tributoxyethylphosphate and water as follows:

A B O D E Paste of the sodium salt of dodecyltoluene sulfonic acid; -..parts.- 500 500 500 500 500' M6! do---- 20 45 70 as 120 Tributoxyethylphospha do-.. 75 50 32 Total --do. 620 620 620 620 620 Percentage oi tributoxyethylphosphate calculated on dry sulfonate percent.. 81 23 15. 5 10 0 Sinking Times Cotton Wool Cotton Wool 1 g./l. 0.5 g./1.

Seconds Seconds Seconds Mixture E 21 33 60 70 The technical pure sodium salt of dodecyltoluene sulfonic acid used in this example may be obtained by sulfonation of dodecyltoluene with 20% oleum at 25 C. When the sulfonation is finished the sulfonate mass is diluted carefully with ice (approximately 45% of the weight of 20% oleum employed for the sulfonation). After standing overnight the mass separates in two layers. The lower layer consisting of dilute sulfuric acid is drained and the upper layer is neutralised under cooling with a 30% caustic soda solution. The paste obtained in this manner contains approximately 36% of water and 8.5% of sodium sulfate and constitutes technical pure sulfonate.

What I claim is:

1. A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture of at least one water-soluble salt of an alkyl-aryl-sulfonic acid and of at least one substantially water-insoluble triester of phosphoric acid selected from the group consisting of trialkyl phosphates and trialkoxyalkyl phosphates, the alkyl radicals of which contain 3 to 8 carbon atoms, the quantity of phosphoric acid triester present amounting to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said salt.

2. A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture of at least one water-soluble salt of an alkylbenzene sulfonic acid and of at least one substantially waterinsoluble triester of phosphoric acid selected from the group consisting of trialkyliphosphates and trialkoxyalkyl phosphates, the alkyl lradicals fiofwhich contain 3 tox8 carbon :atoms, the quantity: of phosphoric acidotriester" present amounting to 1-0 to 40% by-weight relative tothe said salt. 7

3. A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture of .atjleast oneywater-soluble salt of an alkylnaphthalene sulfonic" acid and of at least one substantially water-insoluble triest'er of phosphoric acid selectedfi'om the group consisting of trialltyl phosphates and triallgoxyalkyl phosphates,'-.the alkylLradicals..oflwhichcontain 3 to 8' 5. A wetting agent consisting-essentially of a mixture.

of at least one salt QfnQnyI-naphthalen e sulfonic acid an'EF'o'f atleast one substantially water-insoluble triester of-phosphoricacid: selected from the group consisting of trialkyl phosphates and trialkoxyalkyl phosphates, the alkyl radicals of which'contain 3 to 8 carbon atoms, the quantity of- -phosphoric acid triester present amounting to. 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said salt.

-' 6. A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture of at least one Water-soluble salt of an ,alkyl-aryl sulfonic acid and of tributyl phosphate, the quantity of the latter present amounting to; 10. to 4.0% by weight relative to the saidsalt.

7. A wetting-agent consisting essentially of a mixture ofat least onewater-solublesalt of an alkyl-aryl sulfonic acid and of ,tributoxyethyl phosphate, the quantity of the latter present amounting, to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said salt. 8. A wettingagent-consisting essentially of a mixture of at leastv one water-soluble salt of an alkyl-aryl sulfonic acid, of tributyl phosphate and of 'tributoxyethyl phosphate, the quantity of the latter present amounting to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said salt. V

9. A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture of at least-one water-soluble salt of the nonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid and of tributyl phosphate, the quantity of the latter present amounting to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said salt.

10. A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture of at least one water-soluble salt of the nonyl-naphthalene sulfonicacid and. of 'tributoxyethyl phosphate, the quantity of the latter preseht amounting to 10 to by weightrelativ othesaid.

'11.' A wetting agent consisting essentially of a mixture, of at least one water-soluble salt of the dodecyltolue'ne: sult onie acid and? of' tributyl phosphate, the I quantityof the latter present amounting to 10 to. 40 by weight relative to .theiis'aidl saltL' a v 1 1 25A wetting ;agentconsisting essentially of a mixture of at 'lle'ast; oneiwater s oluble salt of "the dodecylteluenel sulfi onicnacitl .and: of Ltributoxyethyl phosphate, the quantity of the latter present amountinglto '10 'to 40% by weight .relative to; the said salt;

13. A wetting agent consisting essentially: of'a mixture of at least one water-soluble saltof the dodecyltoluene sulfonic acid, of tributyl phosphate and of tributoxyethyl phosphate," the t quantity of phosphatespresent amounting to 10. to.4.0% byweightirelative to the said salt. f.

14. The method of enhancing thewetting-out capacity ofaywetting agent consisting essentially of at least one water-soluble. saltofi the nonyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid, which comprisesiadrnixing .thetsaid .wetting agent with tributyl phosphate, the quantity ,of the latter present amounting to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said Wetting agent. V j V g 15. The method of enhancing the wetting-out capacity ofawetting agent {consisting essentially of at least one water-solublesalt of the nonyl-naphthalene sulfonic acid which comprises admixing the said wetting agent with tributoxye'thyl phosphate, the quantity of the'latter present amounting to 1 0 to 40% by weight relative to the said wetting agent. i l. j

16. The method of enhancing the wetting-out capacity of a Wetting gent consistingessent al y ofi t e sjtI n water-soluble salt of the-dodecyltoluene sulfonic acid which comprises admixing the said wetting agent with tributyl phosphate, the "quantity of the latter present. amounting 'to 10 to40% by weight'relati've to the said wetting agent.

17. The method of enhancing the wetting-out capacity of a wetting agent consisting essentially of at least one Water-soluble salt of the dodecyltoluene sulfonic acid which comprises admixing the said wetting agent with a mixture consisting of tributylphosphate and tributoxyethyl phosphat'e, the quantity of the said mixture present. amounting to 10 to 40% by weight relative to the said wetting agent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469.37! Flett May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 538,408 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1941 

1. A WETTING AGENT CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A MIXTURE OF AT LEAST ONE WATER-SOLUBLE SALT OF AN ALKYL-ARYL-SULFONIC ACID AND OF AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY WATER-INSOLUBLE TRIESTER OF PHOSPHORIC ACID SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TRIALKY PHOSPHATES AND TRIALKOXYLAKYL PHOSPHATES, THE ALKYL RADICALS OF WHICH CONTAIN 3 TO 8 CARBON ATOMS, THE QUANTITY OF PHOSPHORIC ACID TRIESTER PRESENT AMOUNTING TO 10 TO 40% BY WEIGHT RELATAIVE TO THE SAID SALT. 